Slight increase in national bovine TB stats

摘要

Since the beginning of 2019, 3.72% (4,060 herds) of all herds tested for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) have experienced a new breakdown, ie. at least one animal tested positive for bTB. Herd incidence for 2019 was the highest recorded since 2013 andmarks the third successive year of increasing bTB levels. Figure 1 shows bTB levels in many areas overall are low but there are areas with higher levels of bTB in the north-east of Ireland (Monaghan, Cavan, Louth and North Meath) as well as parts of Clare, Cork, Wicklow and some other districts. The number of reactors identified through a combination of skin testing and gamma interferon testing (GIF) in 2019 was 17,058, a decrease of 433 from 2018 (about 2.48%), GIF testing can identify bTB infection atan earlier stage than the single intradermal comparative tuberculin test (SICTT), which is used for the annual round test. Therefore, when used appropriately, GIF testing can reduce the chances of leaving residual infection in a herd after de-restriction, By removing more infected cattle earlier, the risk of re-infection will fall, according to the DAFM.